The University of Akron Speech Team ended its 2009-10 season by taking seventh place in Division I of the National Forensic Association (NFA) National Speech and Debate Tournament at Ohio University on April 15-19. Eighty-four teams from around the country qualified at state and regional levels for the national competition.
Eric Bonilla of Girard, Ohio, a UA student majoring in speech-language pathology and audiology, placed fourth in the nation among 166 competitors in Poetry Interpretation. He placed 13th in Prose Interpretation.
Katie Giglia of Berea, Ohio, a UA student majoring in interpersonal and public communication, placed fifth in the nation among 210 competitors in Prose Interpretation.
Other UA team members contributing points to the overall team finish included Gregory Bennett of Lakewood, Sarah Brazier of Wadsworth, Diane Dawley of Huntington, W.Va., Andrew Golden of Jackson Township, Kenyuana Jofferion of Cleveland Heights, Josh Rocha of Wooster, and Austin Temple of Amsterdam, Ohio.
Akron resident Mark Rittenour, a faculty member in the UA School of Communication, coaches the team. Jason Schweizer of Canton and Kady Skowron of Austintown, both alumni of the team, are assistant coaches.
Also this season, UA was one of only two teams from Ohio to qualify students for the American Forensic Association’s National Individual Events Tournament in Wisconsin in early April.
Each fall semester, the UA Speech Team and its alumni association host two tournaments on the UA campus. To learn more, contact Mark Rittenour at 330-972-2459 or mritten@uakron.edu.
Media contact: Cyndee Snider, 330-972-5196 or cyndee@uakron.edu.